Art Madrid'25 – POETICS OF THE GAZE AND THE IDENTITY

BAT Alberto Cornejo, Moret Art, Zielinsky and Jorge Alcolea Galleries

 

If there is something especially captivating about the portrait genre, that it is the gaze. For some time the importance of the characters portrayed does not reside exclusively in symbols of power but in the ability to capture psychological essence achieved by the portraitist, being precisely the gaze that gives the portrayed greater psychic depth. In addition, when, the eyes of the portrayed figure look directly at the spectator, there is an astonishing tension, a kind of restlessness that requires dialogue, which exhibits provocation. The power of the gaze seems eternal as if it had a greater consistency able to expose the contained intimacies.

José Ramón Lozano

Sin Título (VI), 2019

Acrylic on canvas

170 x 190cm

However, if the gaze can reflect a person's state of mind in an exceptional way, it can also hide it, make it confusing and inaccessible to external eyes that try to penetrate it. To identify or not to identify, the gaze expresses at the same time unique beings for some, similar ones to others, transcendental or insignificant. Both from the moral and aesthetic standpoint, those portrayed who look at us, who look at us in reality from our contemplation of the present, create a direct tension with the past and identity. Always with a cryptic like air, as the portrait prooves what we shall never be, what we are at the time that the photograph was taken or the portrait was painted, that sense of Barthes’ "this has been", these images are predicting our end.

Lantomo

Dim light-dark sea 1, 2019

Graphite and pastel on paper glued to wood

100 x 73cm

Within the great proposal of the BAT Gallery Alberto Cornejo (Madrid) what precisely stands out is the portraiture genre. The women portrayed by José Ramón Lozano usually look at us very consciously, almost demanding that we contemplate and finish the story that they themselves have opened. They have something memorable, a turning point in a possible story of internalized solitude so often accompanied by pain. Very different are the portraits of Lantomo (Antonella Montes), more intimate, more reserved. While the use of graphite, watercolour and pastel is one of the reasons that explains that the figures acquire these characteristics, so is the fact that their characters do not always look at us, but are absorbed in their thoughts and do not require the empathy of the observer.

Mária Švarbová

No Diving, Smykacka, 2016

Photography

70 x 70cm

Marta Sánchez Luengo

Llegará, 2016

Bronze and iron

102 x 121cm

Another of the most outstanding portrait artists of our times is Mária Švarbová, a photographer from which the BAT gallery will present a selection of their individual and collective portraits. We attend the portrait of childhood and the beginning of adolescence in stages of meticulous harmony, of bodies so perfect and similar that touch the dreamlike fiction. On the other hand, the figures included by Marta Sánchez Luengo In their sculptures are much more than natural and close, they are realistic. In fact, their naturalistic way of modelling and the attitudes of their characters, as every day as reading a book, waiting for the underground or just walking around thinking, can certainly remind us of the realists from Madrid and especially of some pieces by the master Julio López Hernández. Leticia Felgueroso’s works could also relate to the realists because they share the passion for portraying the city of Madrid, although in the case of Felgueroso is through photography and intervened chromaticism.

Gustavo Díaz Sosa

De la serie de Revelaciones y Encrucijadas, 2019

Técnica mixta sobre madera. Cara A

200 x 140cm

In this daily work proper of the great metropolises, the contemporary society is also exposed very well: multitudes of people who move on full of worries and anxieties, between haste, jams and "deadlines". This guided mass is a topic that Gustavo Díaz Sosa tends to reflect in series such as "Burócratas y Padrinos", "Huérfanos de Babel" or the most recent "Revelaciones y Encrucijadas". The imposed social behaviours also removed from natural impulses, is a subject that also concerns Rubén Martín de Lucas, of whom a selection of the series "The Garden of Fukuoka" is presented, work in which the Guest Artist of this edition confronts industrial and natural processes.

The BAT proposal closes with the all rounded shapes of the sculptures by Carlos Albert and Carlos Iglesias, Madrid successors of the Basque School of sculpture; the most fluid and sensual works in aluminium by Rafael Amarós; and the matter and lyrical abstractions of Fernando Palacios.

Lino Lago

Fake Abstract (F. Boucher), 2019

Oil on canvas

160 x 150cm

Daniel Sueiras

Sir Kristoff Tar Toffen the 3rd, 2019

Oil on board

93 x 80cm

Watch and reveal, play with what is hidden and what is shown, is a very particular feature of the Lino Lago portraits, an artist who participates in Art Madrid with the Moret Art gallery (A Coruña). This gallery will also present some of the latest works by Daniel Subeiras, such as the painting "Sir Kristoff Tar Toffee the 3rd" (2019), where the author introduces us to the new addition to his ingenious and extensive gallery of portraits, notable for its humorous component and by his masterful control of the oil-on-board technique. Along with the work of Subeiras, a selection of the sculptural work by Iván Prieto is presented: pieces made from its technical characteristic-ceramics after painted with acrylics-in which contemporary bodies, always defective, without abandoning the crave of an impossible and imposed perfection, they are exaggeratedly distorted to the point of reaching surrealistic, extravagant, more beautiful forms.

Xurxo Gómez-Chao

Magnolia y calavera (Tempus fugit), 2018

Photography. Mineral pigments on Ilford Prestige paper 270 g

100 x 100cm

Moret Art will also include in its proposal the pieces by Miguel Piñeiro, contemporary still lifes of icons from the culture of our time, especially surprising for the high degree of hyperrealism; and the photographs by Xurxo Gómez-Chao, of which two of his lines of work are presented: on the one hand, a set of the beautiful vanitas stagings, and on the other, his more mystery images of rooms, in which a kind of mist seems to have evaporated the previous presence.

Pachi Santiago

Cerca desde lo masculino, 2012

Light box

42.5 x 32.5cm

Juan Fielitz

Desnudo III, 2018

Hahnemühle paper

120 x 74cm

Within the proposal of the Zielinsky Gallery (Barcelona) it is worth highlighting the work of Pachi Santiago, artist who offers the most explicit game around identity, gaze, codes of representation and appropriation, as we see in the broad project "Copying Claudia", in which the spectator can take part in the same feelings. The appropriation, manipulation and interest in the ways of portraying the human body, is something that he shares with the artist Juan Fielitz who, on the opposite, hides the faces or body parts that we would like to see from the portrayed. Thus, in these images collected in archives, the artist stripped the portrayed of his identity, offering in his final photomontages a poetic ensemble of enigmatic fragments.

Yamandú Canosa

Vértice, 2016

Oil on wood

47.2 x 40cm

Zielinsky will also expose the photographs by Eduardo Marco, in which an attentive and contemplative look allows us to repair in the beauty that so often goes unnoticed in the big city; surreal and pop worlds, full of winks in which to recognize ourselves, by Joaquín Lalanne; and the cartographies by Yamandú Canosa, metaphors of our being, of our way of living: at the end portraits of emotions that explain our displacement.

Eloy Morales

Figure 1, 2018

Oil on canvas

100 x 100cm

Some gazes are unique, such as those achieved by Eloy Morales in his huge portraits and self-portrait, that the Jorge Alcolea gallery will show. As the artist explains, for him "the important thing is to show through the work your way of seeing things and the way you present them to the spectator" always maintaining a deep concern for "the tremendous power of the image and its endless possibilities." Other gazes, equally interesting and perhaps more unfathomable, are those from the animal world, some like the bears that star in the latest works by Miguel Macalla.

Isidre Tolosa

Diarios, carpeta y libros, 2018

Mármol de calatorao y hierro

11 x 30cm

Jorge Alcolea's proposal is completed with the urban and nocturnal portraits by Carlos Azañedo, those in which the postmodern city never stops never sleeps and each one of us is only "another one". Also in its stand you will be able to see the realistic sculptures by Isidre Tolosa, personal objects like books or diaries that, likewise, can be the best portraits of ourselves because of everything so personal that they reveal; and the paintings by Isabel Ramoneda, free and careless abstractions on paper accompanied by handwritten thoughts.

Multiple gazes for multiple identities; always open works, eternally expectant in front of the possible gaze of the spectator: these are some of the works that can be enjoyed in the new edition of Art Madrid.

 

Art Madrid’25 presents One Shot Collectors, a program sponsored by One Shot Hotels that returns to the fair for the fifth consecutive edition with the mission of democratizing and promoting art collecting. Aimed at collectors, professionals in the sector, and new art lovers, the program seeks to bring the public closer to the works by offering an accessible approach supported by experts.

The program is led by Ana Suárez Gisbert, an art advisor with an outstanding track record in the art market. Her experience ranges from art valuation to personalized advisory services, helping participants find pieces that suit their tastes and budget. In addition, she combines her technical knowledge with a passion for sustainability, promoting responsible practices within the art market.


Art Madrid.19ª Edition. Galería de Cristal del Palacio de Cibeles. Courtesy image. Beatriz Maestre.


Art collecting is more than a hobby; it is a passion that goes beyond owning a piece. It involves an emotional, aesthetic, and personal journey that connects the collector with the history and creative process of the artist. A collection should evolve gradually, built over time and based on information aligned with our interests. The key is to enjoy the art, without feeling intimidated, and trusting in personal taste.

So, how do we decide what to focus on and where to direct our attention? Where do we start? How do we connect one purchase to the next? A good acquisition happens when we follow our personal tastes, learning to recognize what attracts and interests us, while staying informed before and during the process.


Professional advice from an expert is a safe and consistent way to make decisions. The collector not only seeks to enhance and maximize the quality and value of their collection but also to enrich the buying and enjoyment experience.


In the 20th edition of Art Madrid’25, a consulting space will be offered, led by Ana Suárez Gisbert, Art Advisor, a Law graduate, and a certified Art Appraiser with extensive experience in the art market. This service is designed for both experienced collectors and those looking for their first collectible piece, even for corporate collectors wishing to reflect their brand values through an art collection. The Art Madrid’25 collecting program adapts to different profiles, needs, and preferences, offering a personalized journey and guidance.


Our Art Advisor will find and prepare a selection of artworks based on the requirements and budget of each buyer, as well as assist in negotiating the acquisition.


Starting in art collecting can arise from a desire for knowledge and aesthetic, social, economic, or even business exploration.


At Art Madrid, we promote collecting for individuals and companies who wish to invest in patronage. This initiative is directed at a broad spectrum of profiles, for those who wish to start or continue their collection. Art Madrid offers a wide variety of works in areas such as photography, painting, sculpture, or installation, within a broad price range.


Whether you are an experienced collector, a beginner buyer, a curious enthusiast looking for your first piece, or a company interested in reflecting its values through art, the One Shot Collectors program offers a complete experience. Don’t miss the opportunity to find a work that meets all your expectations.


The advisory service is part of the One Shot Collectors, Collecting Program at Art Madrid’25 and is completely free for those who register in advance.

If you would like personalized advice, request more information via email at vip@art-madrid.com or sign up using the following form:


ABOUT ONE SHOT HOTELS. SPONSOR OF ART MADRID

One Shot Hotels is a boutique hotel chain that focuses on design, creativity, and prime locations in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, San Sebastián, and Porto. Since its foundation in 2013, the brand has built a unique identity in which art, culture, and beauty are essential parts of the guest experience. Each of its hotels is designed to be much more than just accommodation: they are soulful spaces where aesthetics and artistic sensitivity are integrated into every detail.

In line with this commitment, One Shot Hotels returns as a sponsor of Art Madrid, reaffirming its support for artistic creation in all its forms. The chain sees art as a universal language that connects people and transforms spaces, and this philosophy is reflected in the design of its hotels, the selection of furniture, and the arrangement of its environments. Creativity and inspiration are experienced in every corner, offering guests an experience that goes beyond the conventional.

With an eye on the future, One Shot Hotels continues to grow and expand its presence in new destinations, while maintaining its commitment to art and culture. More than a decorative element, art is part of its essence and value proposition, creating spaces where each stay becomes an aesthetic and emotional experience.


ABOUT ANA SUÁREZ GISBERT. ART ADVISOR OF THE PROGRAM

Ana Suárez Gisbert holds a law degree from the Complutense University of Madrid, specializing in International Law and Foreign Trade of Art. She is an appraiser and judicial expert in art and antiques from Antonio de Nebrija University. She is a partner at the art appraisal firm Art Value Project.

She has carried out valuation work for important collections and insurance companies. For years, she has represented major international publications in the arts and design world, such as Frieze, Frieze Masters, and Gagosian, among others. Currently, she combines her work at the art appraisal firm with a project focused on art and sustainability for private companies and local governments.





Sponsor of ART MADRID'25

One Shot Hotels